LALITHA SAHASRANAMAM
निस्तुला नीलचिकुरा निरपाया निरत्यया ।
दुर्लभा दुर्गमा दुर्गा दुःखहन्त्री सुखप्रदा ॥ ५०॥
[ Nistula Neelachikura Nirapaya Niratyaya // Durlabha Durgama Durga Dukha-hantri Sukhaprada ||50||]
दुर्गा (190)
Durga (190)
Meaning:
The word Durga (दुर्गा) literally means Devi is invincible - she is beyond defeat.
Interpretation:
Some scholars are of the view that Durga is a single word and cannot / should not be split while a few others opine that it should be split as Dur + Ga to get the correct interpretation.
According to the first school, Devi is known as Durga because she killed an Asura, named Durgama. This reference is found both in Devi Bhagavatam and Kashi Khand of Skand Maha Puranam.
In Devi Bhagavatam, Devi herself speaks: My name is Durgâ, because I have killed this demon Durgama. I will be pleased by devotees who worship me and I will destroy all your bad calamities and misfortunes.
According to Skand MahaPuran, Maa Durga killed a demon named "Durgamasura". Since it was Durgam (difficult task ) to kill that demon named "Durgamasura", from that time onwards she came to be called "Durga".
One famous shloka states the definition and origin of the term 'Durga': Durge durgati nashini, meaning Durga is the one who destroys all distress or one who eliminates suffering.
According to the Second school, which is more popular amongst Vaishnavism, Dur refers to Difficult, and Ga means to get out - i.e. get out from a prison. The material world is like a prison for the rebellious conditioned souls and it is Maa Durga who provides solace and provides Mukti to her devotees.
It may further be noted that in Vaishnavism, Maa Durga is addressed as Narayani. Devi Mahatmyam / Chani Path contains a whole chapter called Narayani Namostute devoted to worship of Narayani.
Worship of Durga in Bengal:
Any write-up on Maa Durga would be incomplete without a mention about Durga Puja celebration in Bengal. Community worship of Devi during the Sharad Navaratri Sarva Janani Durgotsav is a tradition being followed for the past 400 odd years.
Bankim Chandra in his book Ananda Math mention about three forms of Devi in three consecutive fortnights Durga, Kali and Jagadhatri.
Author's Notes:
The Vedas - chiefly the Rig and Yajur contain a lot of references to the term Durga. In fact, the famous Durga Suktam forms part of both Mahanyasam and the 4th Chapter of Taittiriya Upanishad called Ambasya Paare or Maha Narayana Upanishad.
Beyond these, the Devi Atharvashirhsa Upanishad contains the following quote:
यस्याः परतरं नास्ति सैषा दुर्गा प्रकीर्तिता ॥
She who is renowned by the name Durga is superior, beyond whom no one exists.
Ancient Tamil literatures (which åre more than 5000 years old) also mention about the worship goddess of war called Kotravai (கொற்றவை), who according to few scholars, pre-dates the Aryan era. However, no authentic records establishing Kotravai and Durga are one and the same is available.
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